Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Growth Deals: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will provide additional resources to the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership to assist them in the key role envisioned for them in the independent report, Tees Valley: opportunity unlimited, published on 7 June 2016.

James Wharton: Holding answer received on 14 June 2016



Officials in the Cities and Local Growth Unit will continue to work with the Tees Valley to implement their current devolution deal – including additional resources of £15 million per year, and over £100 million in already agreed growth deals. Tees Valley Combined Authority is already putting in place plans for implementing Lord Heseltine’s report. Government is committed to work coherently with local leaders to support the economic growth opportunities that have been identified.

Planning Permission

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of local authorities in processing and deciding planning applications within recommended timescales.

Brandon Lewis: Between January and March 2016, local planning authorities decided 82 per cent of major applications on time; the highest figure on record.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Libya: Human Trafficking

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made on negotiations with the Libyan government on plans to tackle human trafficking and smuggling.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK, working with our international partners, is committed to working in partnership with the new Libyan government to take concrete action to tackle illegal migration through Libya. The Prime Minister has been clear on the need to do more to break the business model of the people smugglers. At the G7 Summit in Japan on 27 May, he announced that the UK will work to agree a plan to boost the capability of the Libyan coastguard to help stem the flow of illegal migration across the Mediterranean into Europe. Prime Minister Serraj wrote to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, on 21 May requesting cooperation with the EU on the training of the Libyan coastguard. Once a detailed plan has been agreed with the Libyan authorities, the UK will send a training team to assist in its implementation, and as soon as the relevant permissions and UN Security Council Resolution are in place, we will deploy a naval vessel to the South Central Mediterranean to combat arms trafficking in the region. Together these developments will help secure the coast of Libya, limit Daesh terrorists’ freedom of movement and help tackle the migrant crisis.

Israel: Palestinians

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answers of 27 April 2016 to Questions 34797 and 34798, what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK's role in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations of UK funding being used by UN-funded non-governmental organisations to commemorate Palestinian terrorists.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have made no such assessment.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, when his Department last made representations to Saudi Arabia to encourage abolition of the death penalty in that country; and at what level those representations were made.

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, when his Department last made representations to Saudi Arabia expressing concern about the extent of the application of the death penalty in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. We regularly raise human rights issues, including in relation to the death penalty with the Saudi Arabian authorities. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) visited Saudi Arabia on 29 May as part of a regional tour of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and raised our human rights concerns, including the death penalty.

Yemen: Land Mines

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 137WH, when the cross-departmental programme expenditure funding to support Yemen's national de-mining institution will be released.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK has thus far released £671,592 of funding from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to UNDP, who manage the project rebuilding the capacity of Yemen’s national demining institution (YEMAC) and supporting mapping and clearance operations. This project, to which the UK will contribute a total of £1.05m, will reduce the physical and social-economic impact of mines and explosive remnants of war on people and communities. This is part of the UK’s wider efforts to help address Yemen's urgent humanitarian needs and contribute to effective stabilisation - giving the nascent peace process a better chance of success.

Saudi Arabia: Cluster Munitions

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe on 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 137WH, what representations the UK has made to Saudi Arabia to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions; and on what dates those representations were made.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In line with our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, we regularly encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it. The most recent engagement was between British and Saudi Arabian officials on 7 June.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, whether his Department has made representations to Saudi Arabia requesting that the death sentences issued to Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon be commuted.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. We remain concerned about the cases of Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon. I can assure you that we continue to raise their cases with the Saudi authorities at every opportunity, most recently during the Foreign Secretary's visit on 29 May. Our expectation remains that they will not be executed.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Student Loans Company

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate the Student Loans Company has provided to his Department of the costs of the preparation, introduction and administration of the amendments to the fees and student support system in England arising from the (a) replacement of maintenance grants by maintenance loans, (b) introduction of the postgraduate loan scheme, (c) extension of maintenance loans to part-time students, (d) extension of advanced learner loans to those aged 19 years and above and (e) Teaching Excellence Framework.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) fully funds the cost to the Student Loans Company (SLC) of implementing Higher and Further Education student finance policy in England. Funding is allocated on a demand-led basis whereby BIS requests services, SLC estimates the cost of delivery and then BIS pays the costs in full.As set out in the SLC’s public Annual Performance and Resource Agreement (APRA) for financial year 2015-16, BIS made approximately £8.8m available to SLC to meet the estimated costs of implementing all new policies related to student support for Higher and Further Education in England, including (but not exclusively) the implementation of policies a, b and d above.Overall implementation costs for individual policies are usually spread over a number of financial years reflecting the different stages of the implementation process. The amount of funding to be made available to SLC for financial year 2016-17, including for delivery of policies a-e above, will be confirmed in this year’s APRA and published on SLC’s website shortly.

Student Loans Company

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what additional resources have been or will be made available to the Student Loans Company to enable that Company to administer amendments to the fees and student support system in England covering the (a) replacement of maintenance grants by maintenance loans, (b) introduction of the postgraduate loan scheme, (c) extension of maintenance loans to part-time students, (d) extension of advanced learner loans to those aged 19 years and above and (e) Teaching Excellence Framework.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) fully funds the cost to the Student Loans Company (SLC) of administering Higher and Further Education student finance policy in England. Funding is allocated on a demand-led basis whereby BIS requests services, SLC estimates the cost of delivery and then BIS pays the costs in full.As set out in SLC’s public Annual Performance and Resource Agreement (APRA) for financial year 2015-16, BIS made approximately £8.8m available to SLC to meet the costs of implementing all new policies related to student support for Higher and Further Education in England, including (but not exclusively) the implementation of policies a, b and d above. The amount of funding to be made available to SLC for the financial year 2016-17, including for delivery of policies a-e above, will be confirmed in this year’s APRA and published on SLC’s website shortly.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, HCWS30, what proportion of the 1,500 roles will have ministerial exposure following the centralisation of policy functions in London.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



  Co-locating policy teams with the Department’s Ministers and close to Parliament will provide opportunities for all staff to have more ministerial exposure, which helps improve understanding of government priorities. The Department does not expect a set number of roles to be consistently exposed to Ministers whilst others are not. This will be dynamic as resource demands shift over time and will depend on policy priorities.

Higher Education: Standards

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether a provider would need to achieve an Excellent rating in (a) one, (b) two or (c) three of the Teaching Quality, Learning Environment and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain categories in order to achieve an overall Excellent rating under the Teaching Excellence framework.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



 A provider’s performance in the three areas of Teaching Quality, Learning Environment, and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain will not be subject to individual ratings. Assessors will make a holistic assessment, considering all three areas, in order to award a single TEF rating for the provider.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representation there will be on the board of the Institute for Apprenticeships from (a) business, (b) charities and (c) trades unions.

Nick Boles: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The Chair and Board members will be appointed in accordance with the public appointments process. It is expected that the members of the Institute’s board will be comprised primarily of persons with a background as employers and business leaders. This is to ensure that employers continue to drive apprenticeship quality. Applications to join the Institute’s board are also open to representatives of other organisations, including the trade unions.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Education

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that its support for education in its target countries reaches (a) girls and (b) other marginalised groups.

Mr Nick Hurd: Providing a good quality education for all children, especially girls and those who are most disadvantaged is a priority for the Department. The UK supported 11 million children in school between 2010 and 2015. We have again committed to support 11 million children in the poorest countries gain a decent education by 2020. The UK has specifically committed to support 6.5 million girls in school by 2020. Our flagship Girls Education Challenge is ensuring that up to 1 million marginalised girls, progress through school with improved learning outcomes. In July DFID will be hosting a Girls’ Education Forum to drive the implementation of Global Goal 4 for girls and agree actions for making faster progress on girls’ education.

Ministry of Justice

Road Traffic Offences: Sentencing

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to undertake a review of the sentencing guidelines for traffic offences.

Dominic Raab: Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales. Following the announcement by the previous Justice Secretary of a government review of driving offences and penalties, the Sentencing Council have paused their review of sentencing guidelines for causing death by driving. The government is aware of concerns about a number of sentencing issues and is committed to making sure sentencing for driving crimes is proportionate within the context of our wider sentencing framework. It is our intention to commence a consultation in due course which will look at driving offences and penalties.

Legal Profession

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number of lawyers trained in supporting people with mental health problems.

Caroline Dinenage: The legal profession in England and Wales is independent from government and we have no estimate of these numbers.

Ministry of Defence

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered purchasing the AeroVironment Blackwing miniature tube-launched drone.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has met representatives of AeroVironment to discuss the Blackwing miniature tube-launched drone.

Mr Philip Dunne: Representatives of the Department meet AeroVironment representatives on a regular basis to discuss current and potential future capabilities, and the Department is aware of the capabilities of the Blackwing Reconnaissance System. However, the Department has no capability requirement to procure an underwater launched Unmanned Aerial System at this stage, and, as such, there have not been any formal discussions with AeroVironment on a possible procurement of Blackwing.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the provision of helicopter evacuation capability for members of the armed forces injured in combat zones since 2004.

Mr Philip Dunne: Developed during Operation HERRICK, the Medical Emergency Response Team concept comprises a suitably-sized aircraft, a specialist trauma medical team and equipment to provide a level of care close to that in a hospital-based resuscitation room, in the event of an evacuation from the battlefield. This immediate care was a vital contribution to saving lives during that campaign.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department established the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE); who has been appointed as Senior Responsible Owner for that programme; who the key stakeholders for that programme are; how many scientists from the US national nuclear weapons laboratories are seconded to work on that programme; how many AWE scientists have visited the US national nuclear weapons laboratories as part of that programme; what that projected full cost of that programme is; how many scientists are working on that programme; how much has been spent on that programme to date; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that programme to completion.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme (NWCSP) commenced following an announcement on 19 July 2005 (Official report col 59WS). The current Senior Responsible Owner is Dr Paul Hollinshead. The key stakeholders in the NWCSP are the Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Since 1 April 2008, financial planning for AWE has made no distinction between management and operation costs and those associated with the NWCSP. Expenditure at AWE since 2005 is as follows:  £ million at outturn prices2005-064932006-076872007-088942008-098002009-108702010-119442011-129412012-138612013-149612014-15998Spending plans beyond this Parliament will be set as part of the Government’s spending review process. The NWCSP draws on the skills of all 5,000 AWE employees. No scientists from the US national nuclear weapons laboratories are seconded to the programme, but a US engineer and serviceman are seconded. The information on how many AWE scientists have visited the US national nuclear weapons laboratories as part of the programme is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Disarmament

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what methods are used to immobilise fissile material removed from dismantled nuclear warheads withdrawn from operational service; what that cost is of that immobilisation programme; and where that process is carried out.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) stores and re-uses fissile material removed from dismantled nuclear warheads which have been withdrawn from operational service as part of routine stockpile management. This material is not immobilised.

Syria: Military Intervention

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent report he has received on seizing Saudi weapons from Syrian rebel forces.

Michael Fallon: None.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish the findings of its forthcoming review on personal independence payments.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his previous Question UIN39987.

Social Security Benefits

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people transferred from disability living allowance to personal independence payments in each month since January 2014.

Justin Tomlinson: Data on clearances of claims by type (i.e. awarded, disallowed or withdrawn) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), by a range of breakdowns including whether they were new claimants or Disability Living Allowance to PIP reassessment claimants, are available from Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Personal Independence Payment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been awarded the enhanced rate mobility component of personal independence payment in each month since January 2014.

Justin Tomlinson: The available data on the number of claimants in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), by a range of breakdowns including award outcomes, are available from Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Home Office

Asylum: Housing

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass contracts for asylum accommodation and paragraphs 4.4.2.6 (b), (d) and (e) of the Compass Statement of requirements, how many reports were made by service users in each Compass region of (a) anti-social, suspicious, criminal, threatening or harassing behaviour, (b) neglect, sexual harassment or exploitation and (c) domestic violence or concerns with safeguarding of children in each year since 2013.

James Brokenshire: In accordance with the Statement of Requirements, COMPASS providers provide a confidential, yet auditable complaints service for service users of asylum accommodation. Where a Service User raises, or the provider becomes aware of, a prescribed complaint, the provider immediately reports any such complaints to the Home Office and where appropriate the police.The Home Office closely monitors provider performance, including complaints and incident reporting, at monthly contract management meetings. The recording of information concerning the reports made solely by service users of (a) anti-social, suspicious, criminal, threatening or harassing behaviour, (b) neglect, sexual harassment or exploitation and (c) domestic violence or concerns with safeguarding of children in each year is not however recorded on centrally collated statistical databases in manner that allows for data extraction and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of individual monthly records.

Asylum: Housing

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass contracts for asylum accommodation and paragraphs 4.5.1.3(d) and (e) of the Compass Statement of Requirements, how many reports were made by service users in each Compass region of (a) sexual or physical abuse and concerns regarding the safeguarding of children, neglect, harassment or exploitation and (b) theft or loss of a service user's belongings in each year since 2013.

James Brokenshire: In accordance with statement of requirements, COMPASS providers provide a confidential, yet auditable complaints service for service users of asylum accommodation. Complaints and incidents can be reported by service users themselves or by other parties such as co-residents, NGO’s, representatives, provider housing officers or Home Office inspectors.Where a Service User or other party raises a prescribed complaint, the provider immediately reports any such allegations to the Home Office and where appropriate the police. The Home Office closely monitors complaints by type and Compass region, however information split by complainant type can only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of individual incident records.

Drugs

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



The Local Government Association (LGA) has worked in consultation with the Government to develop bespoke guidance for local authorities on the enforcement of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 and their new powers. This has been disseminated to local authorities across the country and is available at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/publications/-/journal_content/56/10180/7838372/PUBLICATIONIn February, we held joint operational workshops with the National Police Chief’s Council for enforcement partners across the UK, including trading standards officers, to raise operational awareness of the Act.We have also produced a forensic strategy for all enforcement partners on the new forensic requirements to support prosecutions under the Act.

Counter-terrorism

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer to Lord Ahmad of 7 April 2016 to Question HL7297, if her Department will make it its policy to use in all future documents and legislation a definition of extremism which includes the phrase mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, rather than the phrase mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The Counter–Extremism Strategy set outs our approach to tackling extremist ideologies. We will challenge all those groups or individuals who vocally or actively oppose our fundamental values, who seek to promote, encourage and spread intolerance of individuals of different faith and beliefs. We are clear that this approach tackles all forms of extremism: violent and non violent, Islamist and neo-Nazi.

Home Office: Scotland

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times she has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

Mrs Theresa May: I have visited Scotland once in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election. Details of meetings with external organisations are published in quarterly returns which are available at: gov.uk.

Refugees: Calais

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees currently housed in the refugee camp in Calais are unaccompanied children; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the asylum applications of those children are prioritised.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees currently housed in the refugee camp in Calais have immediate family members already resident in the UK; and what steps are being taken to reunite those families.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 14 June 2016



The French NGO France Terre d’Asile (FTDA) has carried out a survey of children in the camps in the Calais area, which identified, within the scope of the survey, 43 children with claimed family links to the UK. We are working closely with the French Government and FTDA to ensure that where family links are established, transfers take place efficiently under the Dublin Regulation.The transfer of cases deemed the responsibility of the UK on the basis of family unity provisions contained in the Dublin Regulation can take place relatively quickly and we have resources in place to facilitate this. An individual must first, however, claim asylum in France or another European state participating in the Regulation for the process to begin.Under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015, the UK and France have committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agreed single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and we seconded an asylum expert to the French administration to facilitate the improvement of all stages of the process.The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and of the family reunion process.

Emergency Services: Terrorism

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Civil Contingencies Unit has made an assessment of the implications for its CBRNE defense policies of the findings of the PRACTICE EU project on the different public reactions to industrial or transport accidents and terrorist incidents, referred to in oral evidence to the Science and Technology Committee on 7 June 2016.

Mr John Hayes: The Home Office is answering this question as the lead department for CBRN(e) Response. The Home Office and its partners use a range of evidence to develop the UK’s response to CBRN(e) incidents. This information has informed the development of the Initial Operational Response which has been rolled out nationally across the emergency services. The booklet produced under the auspices of the PRACTICE EU project and referred to in the oral evidence is based on the same body of evidence as the UK response and consequently its content is consistent with our approach.”

Scotland Office

Counterfeit Manufacturing: Scotland

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on steps to prevent consumers purchasing counterfeit electrical goods that are being sold in Scotland.

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the number of counterfeit electrical goods sold in Scotland in the last 12 months.

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on steps to prevent counterfeit electrical goods from being sold in Scotland.

David Mundell: I have had a range of discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Scottish Government ministers. The UK-wide Intellectual Property Office works with law enforcement and industry partners across Scotland to reduce the availability of all types of counterfeits, including electrical goods. Recent successful joint-enforcement activity involving the Intellectual Property Office, Trading Standards, and Police Scotland, in the Barras Market area of Glasgow, achieved over £30 million pounds worth of fake goods seized. These items included not only counterfeit electrical goods, but fake eBooks, watches, clothing, footwear, and tobacco products. The operation saw the arrest of 100 traders, the removal of stalls selling fake goods and the return of legitimate business to the area, and is a superb example of the collective effort of Scotland’s two Governments using our powers and potential in a common endeavour. The Government does not hold data estimating the number of counterfeit electrical goods that were sold in Scotland during the last 12 months. However, we have recently launched a landmark Intellectual Property enforcement strategy in which we have set out how we will improve our data collection. The Intellectual Property Office are developing a robust methodology for measuring the harm caused by IP infringement and a comprehensive scoreboard to be published annually. This will mean better reporting in the criminal justice system, better reporting of court cases, and a deeper understanding of consumer behaviours and emerging trends.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear Fuels: China

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans the Government has to move the design and manufacture of specialised steel casks used to store nuclear fuels during transport to China.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has no plans to move to China the design and manufacture of specialised steel casks used in the transport of nuclear fuels in relation to the sites for which it is responsible.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of potential steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with domestic hot water production.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The Climate Change Act commits the UK to reduce emissions by at least 80% in 2050 from 1990 levels. The Government recognises that carbon savings associated with domestic hot water have an important role to play in meeting this target. That is why the Government confirmed its continuing commitment to support the transition to low-carbon heating in the UK, when it announced its intention for spending on the Renewable Heat Incentive schemes to rise from £430 million in 2015/16 to £1.15 billion in 2020/21. The Renewable Heat Incentive supports the transition from conventional forms of space and water heating to renewable sources as a way of delivering emission reductions. One of the best ways to cut emissions and bills is to help consumers identify where they are wasting energy. That is why we have mandated the rollout of smart meters to every household in Britain by the end of 2020 and why we are also looking at the performance of boilers and conventional heating systems.

Carbon Emissions

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will publish a plan setting out how all government departments plan to contribute to reducing the UK's carbon emissions.

Andrea Leadsom: In preparation for our new emissions reduction plan we are working with colleagues across government to identify action that will cut emissions cost effectively. Our new plan will set out our proposals for meeting our carbon budgets and decarbonising through the 2020s. It will be published in due course.

Mining: Pensions

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 8 March 2007 to Question 125573 and paragraph 1.21 of the National Audit Office's report, HC360, 1995-96, what the reasons are for the difference in the figures given in those documents for the Government's guarantee of the Mineworker's Pension Scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Easington on 8 June 2016 to Question 38958: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-06-03/38958/.

Housing: Energy

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the total (a) energy consumption and (b) amount of greenhouse gas emitted by domestic properties for heating water in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



In 2013, an estimated 89TWh of energy was used for heating water in UK domestic properties [1] and was responsible 18 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions.   [1] Energy consumption from Energy Consumption in the UK table 3.05. Emissions calculation based on emissions factors consistent with the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

Carbon Sequestration: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department has taken to support the Teesside Carbon Capture Storage Collective since the announcement of the reduction in government funds in that sector.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The Department of Energy and Climate Change continues to work closely with Teesside, including through providing funding to the Collective for further work on how Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), carbon usage, hydrogen production and other technologies could reduce carbon emissions from industrial processes. This support follows £1m previously awarded to Teesside as part of the 2013 Tees Valley City Deal, to undertake engineering and commercial studies into the scope for industrial CCS for the Tees Valley industrial cluster, and the October 2015 Tees Valley Devolution Deal, which committed DECC to work with Tees Valley to explore how it can continue to develop its industrial CCS proposals. Lord Heseltine’s recent report “Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited” welcomed the support that the Government is continuing to provide on industrial CCS in the Tees Valley area.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the date and title is of all reports that have been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary into the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in each of the last five years; and if she will place those reports in the Library.

Andrea Leadsom: The periodic Inspection (14-15) of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) is, unlike other HMIC reviews of police forces, not published for reasons of national security i.e. the protection of nuclear sites and material. It is a private report for my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and we do not disclose it due to the sensitive details it contains about policing of sites.

Climate Change: EU Action

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2016 to Question 38382, whether the European Commission's proposal of 10 June 2016 on ratification of the Paris Agreement has changed the Government's timeline for UK ratification of that agreement.

Amber Rudd: The UK is committed to ratifying the Paris Agreement together with the EU and Member States as soon as possible. The Commission’s proposal for a Council Decision on the EU’s ratification of the Paris Agreement is therefore a positive step forward.

Cabinet Office

Commission on Freedom of Information: Costs

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Question 29669, what progress he has made on establishing the cost to the public purse of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The total expenditure of the Commission on Freedom of Information was £155,744.

Corruption

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, where the planned International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre will be based.

Matthew Hancock: The proposal is for the Centre to be located in a major international financial centre such as London.

Anti-corruption Ministerial Group

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Inter-Ministerial Group on Corruption last met.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 June 2016 to UIN: 38864.

Anti-corruption Summit

Bill Esterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of the agreements reached at the Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016 in tackling corruption.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 15 June 2016



This Government the UK has taken a global lead on tackling the scourge of corruption. Each delegation signed up to the commitments set out in the communiqué. In addition, 42 countries and 8 international organisations issued statements setting out further measures they will take.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Huw Merriman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Citizen Service on life chances.

Mr Rob Wilson: Holding answer received on 15 June 2016



NCS is open to all young people and can significantly improve life chances. 7 in 10 participants felt more confident about getting a job in the future after NCS. Young people eligible for free school meals participate in high numbers and demonstrate stronger positive impacts in building resilience. The NCS Bill will make NCS a permanent feature of British life for young people from every background.

Department of Health

Primary Health Care

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to introduce (a) video consultations and (b) other new technology into primary care service delivery.

Alistair Burt: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 June 2016.The correct answer should have been:

From April 2014 to April 2016, the Government has invested £175 million in developing innovative approaches to extend access to general practice through the Prime Minister’s GP Access Fund which has included testing, adoption, and evaluation of: ― new types of consultation such as phone, video and online consultations;― online pre-referral diagnosis tools; and― telehealth, telecare and healthy living apps. During 2017/18 and 2018/19, £171 million will be made available to from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to enable practices to upscale and implement measures tested through the Access Fund. A further £1 billion multiyear investment has been committed via the Estates and Technology Transformation Fund from April 2015 to April 2019, to help GP practices go further and faster to increase the use of technology and develop the primary care estate. Funding will be aligned with local digital roadmaps priorities and will support technology led improvement and innovation which improve patient and clinician experience of services, and access to primary care. The ‘General Practice Forward View’, released in April 2016, announced a commitment to greater use of technology. This includes an increase of over 18% in allocations to CCGs for provision of IT services and technology for general practice, alongside revised funding arrangements for GP IT in 2016-18. This will allow CCGs sufficient local flexibility to commission and procure GP IT services to meet local need. There will also be an additional £45 million multiyear national programme to stimulate uptake of online consultation technology for every practice. The National Information Board also has a programme of work known as Transforming General Practice which will use technology to free GPs from time consuming administrative tasks and provide patients with online services.

Alistair Burt: From April 2014 to April 2016, the Government has invested £175 million in developing innovative approaches to extend access to general practice through the Prime Minister’s GP Access Fund which has included testing, adoption, and evaluation of: ― new types of consultation such as phone, video and online consultations;― online pre-referral diagnosis tools; and― telehealth, telecare and healthy living apps. During 2017/18 and 2018/19, £171 million will be made available to from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to enable practices to upscale and implement measures tested through the Access Fund. A further £1 billion multiyear investment has been committed via the Estates and Technology Transformation Fund from April 2015 to April 2019, to help GP practices go further and faster to increase the use of technology and develop the primary care estate. Funding will be aligned with local digital roadmaps priorities and will support technology led improvement and innovation which improve patient and clinician experience of services, and access to primary care. The ‘General Practice Forward View’, released in April 2016, announced a commitment to greater use of technology. This includes an increase of over 18% in allocations to CCGs for provision of IT services and technology for general practice, alongside revised funding arrangements for GP IT in 2016-18. This will allow CCGs sufficient local flexibility to commission and procure GP IT services to meet local need. There will also be an additional £45 million multiyear national programme to stimulate uptake of online consultation technology for every practice. The National Information Board also has a programme of work known as Transforming General Practice which will use technology to free GPs from time consuming administrative tasks and provide patients with online services.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people under the age of 18 have died after receiving the HPV vaccination in the last three years.

George Freeman: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) collects reports of suspected side effects to vaccines and medicines via the Yellow Card Scheme. It is important to note that a report of a suspected side effect does not necessarily mean the vaccine or medicine was the cause of the reported event, and coincidental illness can also be a factor. Such reports remain under continual review by the MHRA in order to detect possible new risks. The MHRA has received one suspected side effect report with a fatal outcome temporally associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which occurred in the last three years. A link with the vaccine has not been established. There has been no suggestion from safety monitoring so far in the United Kingdom that the vaccine has been responsible for any deaths. More than three million girls have been vaccinated in the UK with HPV vaccine since 2008, and tens of millions more have been vaccinated globally. As with all vaccines, safety remains under continual review, and HPV vaccine has a very good safety record.

Medical Treatments

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England's consultation on a proposed method to support investment decisions in specialised commissioning, launched on 12 April 2016, if NHS England will issue a consultation on arrangements for commissioning treatments recommended through NICE's highly specialised technology programme.

George Freeman: As part of the work to develop NHS England’s strategic framework for specialised services, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be working together closely to improve the adoption of highly specialised technologies. Further detail will be set out in the coming months in light of the conclusions of the Accelerated Access Review.

Health Services

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans NICE has to consult on its methodology for carrying out evidence reviews and impact analyses to support NHS England's specialised commissioning process.

George Freeman: As yet, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not have any plans to consult on changes to its methods and processes to support NHS England’s specialised commissioning process, but will carry out a full consultation if any such changes are considered necessary. Following NHS England’s review of its specialised commissioning processes and the publication in the summer of the final report from the Accelerated Access Review, we anticipate NICE will want to look at its processes and methods for the assessment of drugs and treatments used in specialised commissioning.

Medical Treatments

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 10 of NHS England's Strategic Framework for Specialised Services board paper, published in May 2016, what plans his Department has to issue directions to NICE regarding the adoption of its guidance by NHS England for treatments recommended through (a) the technology appraisal programme and (b) the highly specialised treatment evaluation programme.

George Freeman: The Department has no plans to issue any such directions to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NHS England and clinical commissioning groups are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in technology appraisal and highly specialised technologies guidance issued by the NICE, normally within three months of the publication of the NICE’s guidance. Following NHS England’s review of its specialised commissioning processes and the publication in the summer of the final report from the Accelerated Access Review, we anticipate the NICE will want to look at its processes and methods for the assessment of drugs and treatments used in specialised commissioning.